Theoretical Opinions

I’ve come to the conclusion that I hold a lot of “theoretical” opinions; my views are more abstract than concrete. I firmly believe them inside my own mind, when I say them, but they don’t always translate into the real world. They also change with life experience. As I encounter more people, things, ideas, and...

The Christian Mythology of Beauty & the Beast

I have much to say about the new Beauty & the Beast, but the thing that most struck me was a conversation between Belle and Mrs. Potts, where Belle implies the curse “isn’t fair,” because the servants in the castle “didn’t do anything” to deserve punishment. Mrs. Potts implies they do deserve punishment, for “we...

Ben-Hur: A Metaphor of the Christian Life

Jesus was a strange dude. He wasn’t what anyone expected or even wanted at the time. He arrived in a turbulent time in history, when the Judean nation was under Roman occupation. The Jews expected a savior like King David, a sword in hand, to liberate them from their enemies. What they got instead was...

The Dollhouse Culture

I remember when this show premiered on Fox. I sat through two seasons, enraptured. Joss Whedon brought an unusual, ethically disturbing concept to the airwaves—an elite organization who provides programmable humans for a fee. The “dolls” are whatever you require, dominatrix or assassin. They agree to a five-year contract and memory wipe. On the surface,...

The Flash: Memories of an Idealized Self

I’ve always found it impossible to watch superhero stories without finding symbolic, mythological archetypes. Heroism vs. evil, overcoming adversity, and a “little” man attaining superhuman abilities and using them toward good ends speaks to audiences on a multitude of levels. It resonates with inner truths, our moral centers, as well as speaks to our distant,...

The Tunnel: Life Inside the Bubble

Recently, I discussed sin with a friend and whether or not Christians can “choose” not to sin… to achieve a life without sin, despite living in a sinful world, by becoming one with Christ. I argued that this is difficult, because our decision may be “not sinful” on our end, but still have broader, sinful...

Excellent Read

This came through my blogroll last night. It is well worth reading. Recently, I've been engaged in heavy conversations with multiple people about art's role in Christianity -- or rather, its lack thereof, within Christian circles. Along with it, I've noticed, comes a tendency within such stories to go the way of intellectual laziness. Establishing...

Alexei Karenin: Divine Love Vs. Religion

Watching Anna Karenina (the 2000 miniseries) is always a mistake. I get caught up in over-thinking Anna’s husband and ponder nothing else for days. I could run in all directions with it, but I'll cut you a break and choose one. Nothing kills godliness more than religion. One is a transforming heart experience that brings...

Imagine… Risen

Imagine you are a Roman centurion stationed in Judea, tasked with keeping the zealots in line. They were a group of fanatical religious Jews intent on liberating themselves from Roman influence. It does not take much for them to riot, attack Romans in the street, or plan larger-scale battles. Each year, over a hundred thousand...